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Wednesday, 24 August 2011

I have not found the time for writing of late, but I have found enough time to grab my camera and capture some of those moments to cherish and so here I will share them. The hour is late so I'll leave reflextions and ponderings for another time...

This boy, this dreamy boy of mine brought me this gift home the other day. My heart did a thousand summersaults as he told me he'd found a heart shaped stone for me. This is the most valuable treasure I have ever owned. Now I have it nestled inside one of my old pointe shoes which hang from my bed post.

An impromptu picnic - good call Daddy!

And another picnic happened the next day at the botanic gardens with dear friends, memories were carved in hearts forever to paraphrase that dear friend.

check her spidey moves out!

Loving that this fallen tree has been left where it is as a place to sit by the river and for little bears to clamber up and over, in and out. This was the root end once upon a time but now, the perfect nook for my girl.

Loving these curtains as a back drop, loving our girl even more!

Loving picnic lunches and bed time stories at the tipi.

Gotta love mother nature!

Things that have warmed my heart recently;

Charity shops! Clothes, games, puzzles, nick naks for the kids play kitchen. All for pence not pounds! Why is it I forget so easily what treasures can be found nestled in the corners of charity shops. I came home laden with new things and spent virtually nothing - these are shopping trips we can afford. Re-use re-cycle, it's all good.

But in total contrast ... wholefood shops ... I should not be allowed near them with my credit card especially when hungry! Nice though the feeling of eating and drinking fresh handmade and local produce is, my bank account is feeling a little hungry as a result. Three shops in as many days and I overspent in each, bad mummy. I don't do it often, so maybe once in a while I just have to get it out of my system, in style, done now.

Poetry, writing it. You know you're on to a good one when within 5 mins you've scribbled it down for the most part on the back of your kids school prospectus because thats all that was beside the bed when the inspiration came. And so, a new tab to this blog perhaps might be born ...

Hope. Hope springs eternal, doesn't always feel like it, but I have reason to hope at the moment. I smell a change in the wind. Autumn, season of noteable change, season of looking inwards and typically for us lots of potential change is on the horizon. We've approached much change together Cliff and I. Since we met ten years ago this Autumn we've ridden some big waves together, sometimes it feels like we're hanging on for dear life, but we're still together, but our roots intertwinned and strong.

Bed time stories outside, hot drinks and fresh air, mmmmm

Impromptu craft sessions, totally their idea

Street party ...

Gaia calls the mask her 'cat theatre'

Love this little world Zander created

And a mid-afternoon bath provided the relaxation they needed to drift peacefully to sleep for a while.

Thursday, 18 August 2011

It's the little things this weekend that have bought me the most joy. In amoungst the daily chaos which still exists within weekends there were a couple of occasions where I noticed the children independantly playing together, beautifully, conflict free and easy

And it's very much about dens at the moment. A couple of dinning room chairs, the table and a big old throw makes just the right sort of cosy little nook - and oh to be of the age where the seats of other chairs pushed up to the table makes a great upstairs bedroom - I remember being that small thinking these things are so big! What happened, where did time go? How can I be nearly 30 already?!

A tea party happened. And as all of this was going on I got time to tidy, then who knew ... tidying became a game!

Predictably though they eventually got up and deserted the game. Some creative quick thinking was called for so I pointed out how much mess the teddy's and doll's had left after their tea party ... nothing a bowl of bubbly water and some sunshine can't sort, so out went little bear with a bowl full of dolls washing up to do.

We had our own tea party at the tipi - our only patch of mid-afternoon shade what a blessing we built it

I'm watching, watching how they syncronise with one another, watching where they take their inpiration from, watching co-operation in motion and trying not to step in at every disagreement that happens.

I feel slightly relegated to the sidelines, I didn't know the time when they didn't need me to play with them would come so soon. Yes there are bonuses to it, I now have some of that elusive tidying time back, but now I have it the tidying never seemed less important.

I want to still be involved in their play, now the challenge is to find new creative ways in which I can join them without stifling them. It is a separation they have to start making I only I hope it is not selfish of me to still want a place to play amoungst them though.

Other little things that have warmed my heart this weekend....

..... Having the veg beds at the bottom of the garden instead of ten minutes down the road at the allotment is blissfull luxury. To say 'dinners in the garden' brings me so much joy. The feeling of resilience and non reliance on other people. To be able to self medicate with herbs from my garden. Fresh peppermint tea for little ones who confess tummy aches.

.... Snoozing with my babies. I had the choice - wash floors and other glamourous things or lay down and snooze with the bears ... I snoozed and let their pure energy wash over me.

R e j u v a n a t i n g.

There's a september chill in the air already which feels a slightly premature it being the beginning of august. But there's that feeling that comes with september, that feeling you can't put your finger on; familiar, makes the corners of your mouth curl upwards a little. One of change - as the season will. It's that feeling akin to starting a new school term - another out with the old and in with the new feeling - a second chance at new year and resolutions.

A time to review the year passed (and how fast did it pass!) and cultivate hope for the future. But then there's almost a feeling of fresh starts eight times a year as we celebrate the pagan wheel of the year - each new phase and anothers end gives this chance for reflexion and hope. The wheel is perpetual, and as such maybe we shouldn't view the latter part of the year as the 'end' nothing is ending, it keeps on moving subtley shifting shape through the seasons.

Wednesday, 3 August 2011

First harvest. Fitting then that a sudden industriousness came over me and at the end of the day I had a bottle of Elderberry cordial, a jar of summer fruits jam and a jar of calendula flowers infusing in olive oil. Capture moments of summer, preserve them how ever you will, I love it.

I needed a day at home, a chance to ground myself, ourselves, get connected to our nest, imbue it with positive energy and be greatful for all I have.

Recently I've been chewing over the Four Noble truths of Buddhism.

Suffering does exist

Suffering arises from attachment to desires

Suffering ceases when attachment to desire ceases

Freedom from suffering is possible by practicing the Eightfold Path

In particular noble truths 2 and 3. It is a generalisation to say that suffering arises from attachment to desires as not all does. But this is exactly what I have been thinking about - the suffering that we create for ourselves by becoming attached to our desires.

I have much, but I daydream of a different life style and sometimes forget what I have. I focus on the desire for those different things and I think I do suffer for it in a way. That feeling of falling short of my own high expectations.

I also pondered on how it seems, though honestly I'm always pushed for time, I generally like to post here when I have a story to weave or thoughts to thrash out but I can see simply collecting moments, rediscovering moments caught on my camera may just be enough may be everything even some days and that sometimes words are not needed.

Who better to create some balmy summer moments with than my sister and her two boys.

The only time of year Mummy truley endorses playing with pistols ... water pistols. No idea what the thermostat said today but boy it was hot. I love this shot, they wouldn't pause for a pose but this captures the essence of their play perfectly, even with James' arm just entering stage right, you can see the motion and feel the game.

But soon a bowl of water and a pistol each was not enough

Good call mama!

Holding these and all the other memories deep in my heart my darling children. I love you more than words could ever say.

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About Me

I am a nature loving mama blessed with two wee wildlings living in East Anglia, old land of the Iceni, in England.
I am a weaver of words, stitcher of stories and curious of thoughts. I write experientially, when it flows and needed a space to collate these things for myself and for friends. So here we are. Brew up a tea and make sure it’s a big slice of cake you have there before you sit down and read. Enjoy X